Saitama Super Arena

Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ, Saitama Sūpā Arīna) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chūō-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It opened preliminarily on May 5, 2000, and then was officially opened on September 1 of the same year. Its maximum capacity is 36,500,[4] making it the second-largest indoor arena in the world. The main arena capacity is between 19,000 and 22,500.

Saitama Super Arena
Location8 Shintoshin, Chūō-ku, Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Public transit JR East:
Saitama-Shintoshin
■ Takasaki Line
■ Utsunomiya Line
■ Keihin-Tōhoku Line
Kita-Yono
■ Saikyō Line
OwnerSaitama Arena Corp.
Capacity36,500 (maximum capacity)
27,000 (stadium setting)
22,500 (arena setting)[1]
Construction
OpenedSeptember 1, 2000 (2000-09-01)
Construction costYEN ¥ 20 billion
USD $ 195 million
EUR € 142 million
ArchitectDan Meis[2]
Ellerbe Becket[3]

The arena was designed by Dan Meis, who at the time was working for architecture firm Ellerbe Becket,[5] together with Nikken Sekkei. Meis's design was selected as a result of an international design competition.[6] The arena features a gigantic movable section of seating which can reduce capacity for smaller events and create a more intimate setting.

It is a favorite venue for puroresu (Japanese professional wrestling) and mixed martial arts (MMA). It has also hosted other sports events such as boxing, basketball, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, and gymnastics. It is the only Japanese arena equipped especially for American football.

It formerly housed the John Lennon Museum, which displayed John Lennon memorabilia and closed in 2010.

Events

Combat sports & entertainment
With an MMA event – Yarennoka! – December 2007

New Year's Eve events

The arena has hosted a major martial arts event on New Year's Eve since 2001.

Other events

The Saitama Super Arena hosted a special event from professional wrestling company WWE that took place on February 5, 2005, and was later broadcast on February 10, 2005. The event is famously remembered for the "Kimono Match" that took place between Torrie Wilson and Hiroko Suzuki (a Japanese native who would later be elected to the Funabashi city council as part of a political career). Hiroko was defeated after losing her kimono, being stripped down to her bra and panties at the hands of Torrie.

On November 29, 2009, the arena hosted one of the biggest fights in Japan's history, with WBC Flyweight Champion Daisuke Naito defending his title against Koki Kameda.

The arena hosted the Japanese return of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 26, 2012, for UFC 144. Other UFC events held in the arena include UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann on March 3, 2013, UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson on September 20, 2014, as well as UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson on September 26, 2015.

On November 7, 2019, Japanese bantamweight boxer Naoya Inoue defeated Nonito Donaire at the arena to claim the 2018–19 World Boxing Super Series.

On December 29, 2019, the arena hosted Bellator 237.

Other sports

It is one of two home arenas of the Saitama Broncos basketball team.

In 2000, the arena hosted two NHL hockey games between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In 2003, NBA basketball teams Seattle SuperSonics and the Los Angeles Clippers, played two regular season games. In 2006, the arena hosted the knockout stage of the Basketball World Championship 2006. In 2019, the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors played two preseason games at the arena. In 2022, the arena again hosted two NBA preseason games, this time between the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards.

The 2014, 2019 and 2023 World Figure Skating Championships were held at the venue.

On New Year's Eve 2018, the arena hosted the exhibition boxing match between former five-division boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.[8]

The arena hosted basketball competitions at 2020 Summer Olympics hosted by Tokyo.

Music

Many music events have been held at the venue, including Music Station, Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, Animelo Summer Live, WIRE, and 'Dream Power' concerts organized by Yoko Ono.[9] Various notable Japanese music acts have performed at the arena, including =Love, Ado, AKB48, Namie Amuro, B'z, Babymetal, Berryz Kobo, Bump of Chicken, Minori Chihara, fripSide, Masaharu Fukuyama, Gackt, The Gazette, Gen Hoshino, Glay, Ayumi Hamasaki, Tomoyasu Hotei, Janne Da Arc, Kamen Joshi, Mai Kuraki, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Luna Sea, Man with a Mission, Nana Mizuki, Momoiro Clover Z, Morning Musume, Mr. Children, Nightmare, Kana Nishino, Nogizaka46, One Ok Rock, Pierrot, Radwimps, Maaya Sakamoto, Scandal, Ringo Sheena, Siam Shade, Sid, Sound Horizon, Spyair, Hikaru Utada, Vamps, Aimer, and Yoasobi.

Some anime projects like Uta no Prince-sama, Love Live!, K-On!,[10] The Idolmaster,[11] and Touken Ranbu have featured in live performances at the arena.

Many international artists have performed at the venue, including The Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Guns N' Roses, Beyoncé, Linkin Park, Ariana Grande, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys, Muse, DragonForce, Metallica, Radiohead, AC/DC, Jeff Mills, Taylor Swift, U2, Iron Maiden, One Direction, Katy Perry, and K-pop acts BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, BTS, SS501, Girls' Generation, Kara, Apink, Big Bang, 2PM, F.T. Island, 2NE1, Shinee, CNBLUE, Seventeen, Kim Jae-joong, Exo, Twice, NCT 127, Iz*One and Treasure. Queen + Paul Rodgers performed there, with the concerts being recorded in the concert DVD Super Live in Japan. Green Day taped the show for their new live album titled Awesome as Fuck. David Coverdale's band Whitesnake, while performing at the Loud Park Festival, recorded their performance for their live album Made in Japan.

See also

References
  1. "Facility Information | SAITAMA SUPER ARENA". SAITAMA SUPER ARENA. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  2. architect Dan Meis
  3. Saitama Super Arena Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine architect Ellerbe Becket
  4. "Facility Information | SAITAMA SUPER ARENA". SAITAMA SUPER ARENA. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  5. "Saitama Super Arena". www.mondoworldwide.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  6. "Saitama Super Arena". www.mondoworldwide.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  7. Rizin debut leaves questions unanswered - Dave Meltzer, 6 January 2016
  8. "Floyd Mayweather wins farcical Tokyo mismatch over distraught kickboxer". The Independent. 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  9. "Dream Power Super Live events history". Dream Power (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  10. Morrissy, Kim (September 2, 2019). "K-ON! Band Ho-kago Tea Time Makes Surprise Appearance at Animelo Summer Live 2019". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. Kidani, Takaaki (November 6, 2018). "ブシロード 木谷高明が語る、『バンドリ！』プロジェクトの軌跡と未来 「何十年も続く作品にしたい」" [Bushiroad's Takaaki Kitani talks about BanG Dream!'s project trajectory and future: "I want to make a work that will last for decades"] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Kenji Sunaga. Real Sound. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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